Summary Of Share Our Strength Priorities And Relevant Provisions Of The Consolidated Appropriations Act Of 2023

On December 29, 2022, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 (H.R. 2617) was signed by the President and became law. This omnibus appropriations bill (sometimes simply known as the omnibus or omni) funds the government for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2023. In addition to setting funding levels across federal programs, this bill also included several significant policy changes, including:

• Permanently allowing non-congregate summer meal service in certain situations,
• Establishing a permanent, nationwide Summer EBT benefit, and
• Addressing stolen or “skimmed” SNAP benefits.  

This bill does unfortunately curtail two temporary pandemic supports: it reduces Pandemic EBT benefits for summer 2023 and ends SNAP emergency allotments after February 2023.

This summary includes more details on these provisions.

Based on this legislation, the following supports will be available:

• For Summer 2023: 
  • Pandemic EBT remains available in states that have approved plans.
    • The requirement to have an approved SY22-23 plan has been removed.
    • The benefit level has been lowered to $120 max total for the summer.
  • Non-congregate summer meals will be an option in rural areas without congregate sites using guidelines and models that USDA developed for earlier demonstration projects like Meals to You.
    • States that want to offer the option this summer must submit a plan by April 1st.
• For Summer 2024 and beyond:
  • Summer EBT will be available nationwide to all children eligible for free or reduced-price school meals based on regulations to be issued by USDA sometime in 2023.
    • States must opt in, submit a plan by Feb. 15th, and pay half of the admin costs.
  • Non-congregate summer meals will be an option in rural areas without congregate sites available based on regulations to be issued by USDA sometime in 2023
    • States must opt in and submit a plan by Feb. 15th that details how they will identify and target areas with gaps.